What is the difference between east and west dragons?

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by Mightymaze, Mar 10, 2018.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. xluferx

    xluferx [The writer who writes for fun][Meme lord]

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    Messages:
    874
    Likes Received:
    678
    Reading List:
    Link
    My thoughts summed up lol
     
  2. PotatoZero

    PotatoZero Well-known Potato

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2016
    Messages:
    1,786
    Likes Received:
    1,614
    Reading List:
    Link
    I wonder why people always talk about Western Dragons as an over-sized lizard with wings? Even when I try to imagine a generic dragon and pluck their wings and shrink them into palm-size I can't figure what kind lizard are supposed to look remotely like that?
     
  3. FranckOA

    FranckOA Killer Klown From Outer Space

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2016
    Messages:
    1,198
    Likes Received:
    1,587
    Reading List:
    Link
    In greek mythology dragons has been linked to asclepios and demeter and were their servants (her chariot was pulled by dragons), they were also faithfull guardians of the treasures of thoses gods (one guarding the golden apple of the garden of hesperides was killed by heracles and changed into a star by Hera who regretted causing its death by puting this thievery in the 12 labours).

    In catholic religion dragons were associated with the snake of the eden garden and were responsible for natural catastrophes, plagues or pure evil ordered by satan himself, of course they were portraiting the whole seven deadly sins in their acts.

    It was the norse mythology that associated them with greed and gold mountain, Fafnir is the most know of this kind of dragons (a dwarf changed into dragon by cursed gold), then this greedy dragon sleeping on a golden treasure was re-used everywhere (even in german opera) and Tolkien had written the hobbit sealing in stone this kind of dragon in the fantasy tropes.
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2018
    asriu and Greater thunder like this.
  4. replay

    replay ★Milk and Honey smelling Merchant★

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2016
    Messages:
    3,912
    Likes Received:
    2,602
    Reading List:
    Link
    east grants wishes. . . .
    west have flaming tails and always being hit by a ball. . .
     
    abcalltheway likes this.
  5. ru5ty

    ru5ty Citizen of MILF Kingdom

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2015
    Messages:
    1,128
    Likes Received:
    1,027
    Reading List:
    Link
    that what i was going to say. and eastern dragon have some deity power or god it self, western dragon mostly pictured as a smart and wise animal
     
  6. Sherrynity

    Sherrynity I see no God up there… other than the chaotic void

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2016
    Messages:
    1,415
    Likes Received:
    1,766
    Reading List:
    Link
    Not trying to be racist, but

    Chinese.
     
  7. SugarImmortal

    SugarImmortal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2017
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    195
    Reading List:
    Link
    You are wrong.

    Describing western Dragon as "dumb animals" is incredibly misleading. While there certainly are such examples, in most stories the dragons actual intelligence is left unmentioned, or is explicitly praised.

    In most old stories, the reason for trying to slay a dragon is because of their tyranny, or for their treasure.

    Typically, they show up at some village or city and demand human sacrifices in the form of maidens, as is the case with Saint George.

    They are definitely more direct in their actions than eastern dragons, but calling them dumb animals is just ignorant. The slaying of a dragon is meant to be the greatest feat possible. How can they be lacking in any aspect when that is the case?
     
    yotae and Greater thunder like this.
  8. Chiiiiiiiii

    Chiiiiiiiii >Daoist Thirteen Bears< >Hero Astral Saber<

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2015
    Messages:
    1,763
    Likes Received:
    1,651
    Reading List:
    Link
    Come'on, western dragons have wings while eastern don't, which means they have higher magical power enough to fly!
     
  9. Valcryst

    Valcryst 『Theorizing Panda』 ʕ-ᴥ – ʔ 『Ddraigslayer』 ︻デ═一

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2018
    Messages:
    954
    Likes Received:
    1,623
    Reading List:
    Link
    Hmmm... some would argue that western dragons use magic to fly too because the wings they are depicted to have are said to be too small or not sturdy enough to accomodate flight :hmm:

    This was mentioned in Magus of genesis
    plus some other novels... plainly theoretical but still XD
     
  10. abcalltheway

    abcalltheway Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2016
    Messages:
    100
    Likes Received:
    36
    Reading List:
    Link
    Western : either winged trex or a small winged Snake.
    Eastern: small legged winged Snake

    Since mayan/aztec dragons/gods/deites like kukulkan with its other names like feathered serpent etc.

    And btw i think a Western dragon would win with the same size kinda/ ofc let the Eastern dragon be longer then ofc since it can breath fire and what i know is that even though they can controll the weather hot fire like 2000 degrees fire wil practically turn water useless.. and their beards!
     
  11. Retrospect

    Retrospect Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2017
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    86
    Reading List:
    Link
    Not exactly, the Welsh dragon is a symbol of power and authority and could be found on the national flag of Wales.
     
  12. abcalltheway

    abcalltheway Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2016
    Messages:
    100
    Likes Received:
    36
    Reading List:
    Link
    Or since they controll the weather they can make an updraft? Since they often move up and down this would make so much More sense!
     
  13. Azure

    Azure The True Blue Sky

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2015
    Messages:
    1,132
    Likes Received:
    1,271
    Reading List:
    Link
    Dragons as a whole are actually just the distillation of all things we might fear(Scales of a snake, claws of a tiger, wings/flying of a bird of prey(they hunt monkeys,) natural disasters, and everything beyond our knowledge.) The real difference between Eastern and Western dragons is the narrative purpose they have in the stories. In the west, a dragon can be thought of as "the monster to be slain" representing any seemingly overwhelming amount of adversity in the way of your goals, where as in the east, a dragon can be thought more of as a "Demon to be feared" representing overwhelming power to which you have no defense.
     
    FranckOA likes this.
  14. ToastedRossi

    ToastedRossi Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2017
    Messages:
    3,635
    Likes Received:
    3,513
    Reading List:
    Link
    The thing about tradition is that there are always local exceptions. There are positive examples like in Wales, or the Dacian Draco, but the general portrayal is still a monster to be slain.
     
  15. Ogami-kun

    Ogami-kun 『Blue Shadow ensnaring demons』『FA sect disciple』

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2015
    Messages:
    741
    Likes Received:
    464
    Reading List:
    Link
    there are many differences;
    Western dragons are winged lizards, extremely magic and physically resistant, capable of Breath attacks.
    They are considered as "strongest beasts", but they rarely possess enough intellect.
    Their attributes are a nearly inexaustible vitality and physical strength, usually fire aligned, sometimes Battle maniacs and Greedly.
    Their attack both on close combat, with their immense strength, or flying if their opponents have numbers or if the enemy can best them on Close. While flying their pattern consist in showering the enemies with their breaths, before diving to come close for a rapid attack.

    Eastern dragons have a wider category.
    Generally they are similar to snakes, but having at last two <legs>, some have also wings, but they must NOT be confused with Wyverns.
    They possess nearly infinite magical abilities, and differently to their western counterparts they are not to engage.
    Usually they are aligned to water or wind, and are extremely intelligent.
    Eastern dragons outnumber the westerns, and have a specific hierarchy.
    Some possess divinity.
    Their attacks are magic-based, and can bend the environment to their advantage and use
     
  16. Fluffums

    Fluffums 【R-18 Researcher】【Seeker of Moe】

    Joined:
    May 12, 2016
    Messages:
    2,403
    Likes Received:
    3,650
    Reading List:
    Link
    Even if you say that... There are enough positive examples that you shouldn't paint them with such a wide brush. Especially since Christianity came along and decided to turn all local gods into saints or demons. "Dragon" is such a wide term in the West that it includes animal-like creatures, humanoids (apparently Heracles mated with a dragon at one point in his journey), monsters, divine guardian beasts, natural disasters, and gods with overwhelming power that can't be killed even if they're defeated.

    So it's a little bit disingenuous to dismiss anything that doesn't fit into your viewpoint as "an exception".
     
  17. Retrospect

    Retrospect Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2017
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    86
    Reading List:
    Link
    I doubt that, who would use "a monster to be slain" to symbolize one's country/ kingdom?
     
  18. asriu

    asriu fu~ fu~ fu~

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2016
    Messages:
    18,546
    Likes Received:
    18,145
    Reading List:
    Link
  19. Greater thunder

    Greater thunder Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2018
    Messages:
    1,316
    Likes Received:
    988
    Reading List:
    Link
    It looks like arguing but you guys are stating 85% same stuff with a few commenters bringing in new info yet to appear in this thread.

    So here is a little tidbit for both. With the exception of ones like Tiamat western dragons are presented as killable even if that is super fucking hard. As such it is done by either god(s) or heroes who have to find a way around the dragon's abilities to attack their weak spot.

    In other words a common performance made out to be special in whatever way the writer can think of.

    East type dragons however have a different problem. Their origin. East faith is more in nature and as such even if they state something to be shen or kami or whatever it actually referres to a spirit of nature(whatever the form it takes) with a duty to perform.

    Essentially in eastern myths if you throw a rock you can offend 100 or so "deities" if not the rock itself having a deity inhabit it. Being so common their value is far lower since a head honcho( whoever it is in a particular belief system) can turn them into a mere human,beast,insect or even plant with a thought.

    In their stories it is common either for the dragon to be struck down for not performing their duties or for showing off how a being doted on by the world(a reincarnated deity or a great monk or someone third) can snatch something the dragon has and get away with it no problem.

    Both having their pros and cons they come up equal in the end since you can't measure a completely made up creature's ability to fight, or it's "power level" .

    Personally western dragons are cooler since they have many individual characteristics without a need to to label them divine, but that is just an opinion.
     
  20. GrimKitty

    GrimKitty Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2017
    Messages:
    39
    Likes Received:
    40
    Reading List:
    Link
    This was actually kind of informative, and I liked it. I got to know a chunk more about flying lizards and flying snakes than in the past. Still like wyverns over dragons though.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.